Budaya Fans sebagai Jaringan Sosial Studi Etnografi Mengenai Solidaritas dibalik Kegiatan Konsumtif Komunitas Fandom JKT48 Medan Fans Club

Abstract

Popular culture is often seen as weakening critical awareness in society by offering uniform entertainment consumed en masse and passively. However, beneath this perception, popular culture actually gives rise to a new form of active and meaningful participation fan culture or fandom. Within fandom, fans are not merely consumers; they also act as social agents who build communities, create meaning, and foster strong relationships and solidarity. Fandom becomes a space that demonstrates how popular culture can shape significant social bonds. This study explores fan culture within the JKT48 Medan Fans Club community, which not only reflects consumerist fanaticism toward idols but also serves as a platform for the formation of social networks and collective identity. The aim of this research is to analyze how social networks strengthen solidarity among community members, both on a personal and collective level. This research employs a descriptive-qualitative method, using data collection techniques such as participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation to obtain field data that reflect the actual conditions of fan culture within the JKT48 Medan Fans Club community. The results of the study show that fandom practices such as watching events together, seitansai, gatherings with contribution systems, sousenkyo fundraising, and merchandise trading are not merely acts of consumption. Instead, they reinforce a sense of togetherness, collective commitment, and serve as a medium for the distribution of meaning and social networking. This community functions as a vibrant social space where popular culture is transformed into a source of solidarity and shared identity among youth.